Long record of student-first supervision earns national recognition
The University of Waterloo has its first recipient of the Dr. Suning Wang Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentorship, a national honour presented by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS).
Dr. Catherine Burns, a professor in the Department of Systems Design Engineering and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Human Factors in Healthcare Systems, was selected from 17 nominations from across Canada for the 2026 award. Her selection recognises a career of graduate supervision, research leadership and administrative roles at Waterloo spanning more than a quarter-century.
"The key thing that makes it so special is that it starts with the nomination by your students. That they took that effort, when they are all so busy doing amazing things, and felt strongly about the nomination, is tremendously humbling."
Burns, who earned her undergraduate degree in systems design engineering at Waterloo in 1992, has built an academic record that combines mentorship with large-scale research activity. In 26 years on faculty she has supervised 17 doctoral candidates and 42 master's students, secured more than $27 million in research funding and contributed to over 330 publications. Many of her former students now work in senior roles at major technology and research organisations, including Google, IBM and Airbnb.
Leadership roles within the university
Beyond her supervisory duties, Burns has held several senior administrative positions at Waterloo. She was the founding director of the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, which she developed into a research hub that spans six faculties. She has gone on to serve as Executive Director of Sponsored Research and Health Initiatives and as Associate Vice-President, Health Initiatives. She is also director of Waterloo’s Advanced Interface Design Lab.
Those roles, combined with an active research programme, have not altered her stated approach to students. Burns told the university that she keeps one firm rule for her calendar: she prioritises meetings with students before scheduling other obligations. "We are a university, and anytime our priority is not our students, it seems to me we are off track," she said in comments reported by the university.
Local recognition and a national capstone
The CAGS recognition caps what the university described as a milestone year for Burns. Earlier in 2026 she was named the recipient of Waterloo’s Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision. That followed a Faculty of Engineering supervision award she received in 2016.
The national award is nomination-based, and the university report emphasised that Burns was put forward by students. CAGS selected her from a national pool of 17 nominations, making her the first Waterloo scholar to win the Dr. Suning Wang Award.
- Supervised graduate students: 17 PhD, 42 Master’s
- Research funding attracted: $27 million+
- Publications: 330+
- University leadership roles: founding director of a cross-faculty centre; senior research administration positions
What it means for Waterloo
For residents and the local academic community, the award highlights Waterloo’s strength in engineering and health-focused human factors research. Burns’ role in building interdisciplinary capacity — particularly through the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology — has implications for local research partnerships and for graduate training across faculties.
The emphasis on student nominations and Burns’ own scheduling practice underscore an approach to mentorship that prioritises direct engagement with trainees. For graduate students at Waterloo, the recognition is likely to be read as validation of an environment that supports close supervision and pathways into prominent industry and research positions.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral students supervised | 17 |
| Master's students supervised | 42 |
| Research funding attracted | $27 million+ |
| Publications | 330+ |
As a national award recipient, Burns brings further attention to Waterloo’s graduate programmes and its model of student-centred mentorship. The university says her graduates have moved into influential positions in industry and research, a path the institution will likely point to in recruitment and partnership discussions.
This recognition provides both a personal milestone for Burns and a broader affirmation for Waterloo’s approach to graduate training in systems design engineering and human factors in healthcare.
